Conundrum

[High_Valour]

All

I would really appreciate your advice on a scenario which I am beginning to understand is not uncommon and something to which I believe that I am in.

Has anyone experienced the position whereby Thyroid stats are within normal range, euthyroid, but they are experiencing / exhibiting symptoms of hypothyroid?

There are two parts to this conundrum, firstly, establishing hypothyroid from symptoms alone (weight gain round middle, low sex drive, low body temperature <36c, fatigue, joint pain) and I anticipate one has to purchase tests to rule out other possibilities (vitamin D, testosterone, cortisol etc.). Secondly, when trying to address or rule out hypothyroid and when trying to alleviate the symptoms, how does one tackle this when 99/100 GP's will not entertain any reasoned discussion on hypothyroid given that the stats are in normal range?

I have a family history of thyroid problems and I am experiencing many hypo symptoms notwithstanding my stats are euthyroid. I am unable to obtain T3&T4 without a prescription and my GP wont even consider a trial of T3/T4 as I am in normal range.

I feel totally trapped, feel like death walking, but I cannot even attempt to address my situation as I cannot get a prescription. I always thought GPs should treat the patient and not the stats but apparently not.

I would like to trial small doses of T3/T4 to see if my symptoms, especially low body temperature, improve.

Has anyone else been trapped in this way and what did they do to get out of it?

Thanks

HV

[ITYFIALMCTT]

You could do worse than to obtain some test results and post them up here for suggestions. As you say, it's not uncommon, and several members have been in your position and been able to develop a plan to improve how they feel and I hope this will be true for you.

ETA: If you have any of your past test results - please post them along with your reference ranges. Thyroid panel, iron panel, CBC, vitamin and minerals etc.

[Clutter]

High_Valour,

Hypothyroid symptoms are non-specific and can be attributed to many conditions so GPs do not diagnose hypothyroidism until TSH is over range or FT4 below range.

If you post your recent thyroid results and ranges it will help members advise. If you have results and ranges for ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate please also post them.

[High_Valour]

Thank You

My recent stats (last month) were as follows:

THYROID

TSH - 1.15 (0.27 - 4.20)

FT4 - 16.6 (12 - 22)

TT4 - 100 (59-154)

FT3 - 5.81 (3.10 - 6.80)

Antibody - 13.9 (0-115)

CORTISOL

Waking - 12.2 (6-21)

12PM - 4.48 (1.5 - 7.6)

4PM - 3.83 (0 - 5.49)

Bed - 1.5 (0 - 1.99)

DHEA(s)

3.73 - (0.44 - 13.40)

IRON

Iron - 27.5 (10.6 - 28.30)

TIBC - 61.7 (41-77)

Transferrin - 44.57 (20-55)

VITAMINS

VitD - not tested

Folate - "low" - no reference range Genova

B12 - "average" - no reference range Genova

Thanks

HV

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to High_Valour]

Folate - "low" - no reference range Genova

B12 - "average" - no reference range Genova

How ridiculously unhelpful. I'll remember never to use Genova for testing vitamins and minerals.

Does your Cortisol follow the normal curve on the graph? Can you attach a photo of the result to your opening post. Cortisol should be highest in the morning and lowest with the last sample.

With your last sample, did it say 1.5 or did it say <1.5? We've had a couple of posts recently that said the result was <1.5 which again is most unhelpful when needing to know if the sample which is supposed to give the lowest result doesn't give the actual result, just indicates it's less than 75% through the range.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you test B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D

Using Medichecks or Blue Horizon

A test result with no range is useless

Thyroid tests appear fine.

B12 and folate obviously need more investigation

Low B12 can give symptoms in own right and/or affect thyroid

If you can't get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw or

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results

[High_Valour]

Folks

Thank you for your time and input.

Dealing with the specific queries;

Seaside - yes, the Genova test / report ("One Test") was not necessarily helpful, it was a test of all vitamins and was over £300! With regard to my cortisol, I ordered this through medichecks and I don't have a graph as such but I do know that my 4 readings across the day are within the acceptable reference range, albeit at the low end of normal. My last bedtime cortisol reading does state <1.5 and it is indeed the lowest of the 4 readings.

SlowDragon - I agree that I need to close out VitD, Ferritin, Folate and B12. What I do know so far is that my Folate is "low" according to Genova, albeit last year. I now use Medichecks and my recent thyroid results were via "thyroid check plus". With regard to B12, is there a specific test that you can recommend, which B12 should I be looking at - serum or active (or both!)?

I may opt for the Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or just do the vitamin separately. I am fairly certain that I had my blood drawn on an empty stomach when I had my thyroid done last time.

Regardless, I need to box off Ferritin, B12, VitD & Folate and perhaps take things from there.

Thanks

HV